Apache Junction High School - Prospector Yearbook (Apache Junction, AZ)

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Zl UTRAFFIC JAM APPEARS to be the problem as Jon Graffa stumbles and a Coolidge defender falls. Coolidge defeated the Freshman Team 39-48. 23 FRESHMAN TRACY LEHMAN pull up and shoots a jump shot while Steve Workman watches the action. Lehman scored 7 pts. while Steve hit lO pts, for high scoring honors. but the young Prospec- tors still suffered a loss to Coolidge Bears 39-48. 33 FRESHMAN BASKETBALL TEAM: FRONT ROW: Loren Ells. Jeff Karkos. Pat O'Keefe. BACK ROW: Barry Petticrew. Mike Carlton. Steve Work- man. Milo Blanchard. Joe Wilson and Mr. Chris Beatty. Not pictured are Rene Ramirez. Troy Dyks- tra, Tracy Lehman. .lon Graffa. Robert Perez. Mike Hutto, and Mike Cain. 43 UP IN THE air is Freshman Rene Ramirez as he attempts a shot over his defenders during action against Coolidge. Tracy Lehman and Joe Wilson block out for rebounding position. Wilson scored 8 pts. and Lehman hit 7 pts. while Ramirez contrib- uted 3 pts.. but the Freshman Team still lost the Conference game to Coolidge 39-48. Take 97 Stop action

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S eed, rebounding, height bounces freshmen team to 12 wins, 7 lossesl Despite a disappointing beginning, the Freshmen Basketball Team rallied at the end of the Season to win eight of their last nine games to post a I2 win, 7 loss overall record. Reason for the slow start wa's the fact that we played three AA schools twice each early during the season, said Coach Chris Beatty. He felt that during the course of the season that the team matured and progressed very well. In conference play the Freshmen Team finished with an 8-2 record losing only to Coolidge ttwicel. 4 Second game against Coolidge at Coolidge was the most frustrating for Coach Beatty. He said, The press that we had broke in the first half gave us a lot of trouble in the second half, I might have been slightly responsible for this because my own excitement caused me not to explain clearly what I wanted the players to do. We played several tough teams this year especially Mingus and Coolidge, said Coach Beatty. Full court press and ability to handle the ball which improved during the sea- son were the strongest points which allowed the team to have a winning season. Overall lack of experience and height were definitely weak points for the Freshmen cagers. Their discipline and ability to play team basketball impressed me, said Coach Beatty. Joe Wilson and Milo Blanchard were the most consistent scorers but Coach Beatty said that being able to control the ball is what makes an offense work. Steve Workman, Rene Ramirez, and Pat O'Keefe did an excellent job of this as well as scoring off the press and fast break. ' Discipline was an important factor shown by the fact that they came from behind to win seven games and won both games that went into overtime. They were very willing to work to do well and to work as a team during the season, they also played very close to their potential, but as they mature in the next three years, their potential will increase dramatically, said Coach Beatty. It was Coach Beatty's opinion that they will have an excellent chance at the State Finals when they are sen- tors. Other team members who made up a strong bench and performed hard when they were needed were Jeff Karkos, Take 96 Stop action Mike Cain, Mike Carlton, Loren Ells, Robert Perez, John Graffa, Mike Hutto, Troy Dykstra, and Barry Petti- crew. - Steve Workman lj LOOSE BALL CAUSES action as Freshman Pat O'Keefe scrambles for the ball and Freshman Jeff Karkos eyes the action during the season opener against Gilbert. O'Keefe scored two points and Karkos hit four points, but the Fresh- men Team still came upon the short end of a 45- 51 decision. Zh PLAYERS TAKE a short break, while Freshman Joe Wilson prepares himself for a free throw during a 45-51 defeat to the Gilbert Tigers Wilson tallied I2 points in the loss. 31 JEFF KARKOS. FRESHMAN. said. The most embarrassing thing for me during a basketball game was sitting on the bench all the time.

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Spott performance tarnishes 5-9 girls' basketball season I was very impressed by the overall abil- ity of this team, but very disappointed in the intensity of the team, said Mr. Leon Trotter. Coach of the Girls' Varsity Basket- ball Team. Another year, another team, but this was a special team. Having a 5-9 record for the year. the girls learned a lot more than just basketball. Coach Trotter commented on the ability of each individual girl and also their weak points. Captain Licia Graffa, who is 5'9 and a senior, has started for the last two years. Average scoring for her has been eight points ger game. One of her weak points is her defensive aggressiveness because she does before she thinks. Licia has received two medals for the last two years. One was for the second team Ray Toumament and Conference Division. Another starter and captain was senior Gloria Perez, 5'2 , who was the high point in the offense. Moving the ball in motion Gloria had to constantly move for both offense and defense. Being a good defensive player. Gloria received a medal at the Ray Tournament for Second All-Conference Team. Even though the team had only one jun- ior. it succeeded in more ways than one. Starting at forward was Karen Price, who is 5'6 and was known for her speed and jumping ability. Coach Trotter also com- mented that Karen was a good defensive player. Experience was lacking in the team's games, but having seven sophomores on the Varsity Team isn't easy to work with. Taking center for the first time was Soph- omore Patty Peck, who is 5'l0 and has started on Varsity for two years. 4 We depend on Patty to help us a lot, she has great potential? said Coach Trotter. Hav- ing a 12.5 points a game and 7 rebounds average. Patty has received three medals in the past two years. Taking one for the Ray Toumament and two for' the first team all- conference, she has a very good chance in the future, according to Coach Trotter. Shooting in percentages is very important and to Sophomore Laurie Karkos, she puts everything she's got into it. Laurie, who is 5'. has played for three years and always at Take 98 Stop action guard position. Coach Trotter commented that Laurie is a good ball handler and a better than average shooter. Standing at 5'l0 l!2 , Joy Hays has more than onejob. Starting at the center position and forward, Joy has also played for three years. Joy could become one of our best players in the future years if she works hard. said Coach Trotter. Jumping and shooting is what I like best, said Joy. Aggressiveness is one of her weak points, said Coach Trotter. Aggressiveness is a big part of the game along with shooting and for Sophomore April Graffa. who is 5'8 , aggression was her motive. April started on the JV last year at guard and moved up to Varsity at two positions. forward and guard. She works very hard on bettering her game. said Coach Trotter. But needs to control the great aggression she shows. Overall. the Girls' Basketball team has been productive and we hope to have a bet- ter team next year, according to Coach Trotter. Support from the fans hasn,t been great this year. but we look forward to a better season next year, said Captain Glo- ria Perez. In some cases girls may not be as good as boys. but the wool will be pulled over their eyes when the girls become dyna- mite team next season. A April Graffa lb OUR PERFORMANCE HAS been spotty all year. I feel like we have good ability, but that ability needs to have more experience. The over- all sportsmanship was very good. Most of the girls' attitudes were also very good, said Coach Leon Trotter. 21 SHOOTING THEIR FREE throw shots during warm-ups before a game against Ray are April Graffa, sophomore, and Karen Price.junior.